For most people, springtime conjures up images of warm sunny days, blue skies, bright flowers and chirping baby chicks, as new life is literally sprouts.

Similarly, high school seniors are also busting out of their shells and slowly growing into adults. With graduation week upon us, 947 local students from Warwick Veterans Memorial High School, Toll Gate, Pilgrim, Bishop Hendricken, as well as Rocky Hill in Potowomut, are set to earn diplomas and embark on new journeys.

Whether they plan to study at colleges, join the military or enter the work force, it seems that one thing that will help graduates achieve their goals faster and more efficiently than anything is the ability to understand the valuable lessons learned from working with others.

Perhaps it was said best by Mayor Scott Avedisian last night during the Vets graduation, which took place at the Community College of Rhode Island Knight Campus.

Avedisian noted that he recently realized members of the Class of 2012 were in kindergarten when he became mayor more than 12 years ago. In that time, he was happy he had the opportunity to share activities and events with students such as Reading Week, sixth grade graduation ceremonies, junior high school honors nights, successes on the playing field, achievements in the classroom, judging senior project presentations and, finally, graduation, because it helped him grow as a person.

Through it all, there was a lesson not only for the students, but for him, as well. The lesson, he said, is to be thankful for the knowledge others give us and always be willing to learn.

“I’m terribly grateful to each and every one of you for the life lessons you have taught me and so many other residents of this city,” he said. “I have watched each and every one of you care for one another, encourage those who failed and stand by those in need. You have enriched our community, tested our limits, and pushed all of us to grow. I only hope that during all these years I have learned even a small fraction of what you have. And that I have grown even a small bit as much as you all have.”

So, as the community proudly sends off the Class of 2012, let us remember the value of learning from others.